Monday, February 22, 2010

Other than a little sanding and finishing the shelf is complete. Made of 18mm blackbutt and inset into a rabbet through the long stretchers/rails.

The tongue and groove joinery was not fun. It would be an easy operation on tablesaw, or router table... Not so easy with a circ saw and a router (especially when the router fence decided to drift randomly.) Ideally, I would prefer to use rabbet planes for this, or fixed machinery failing that. We got there in the end, with tight joints, but I wouldn't do it again with my current toolset.

Also, note the gap in between the front stretchers... stay tuned for further info on the sliding leg vice.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The timber for the WorkBench Project is 'Coastal Blackbutt'. A timber that grows locally up and down the east coast, particularly where I used to live. It's correct name is 'Eucalyptus Pilularis' however after a bush fire it maintains a black colouration to it's lower half; hence 'blackbutt'.

It is a largely straight grained timber. Pale to golden brown in colour. Commonly available in 350-400mm widths upto 3m length. Sale prices vary around $2-5 a board foot makes it very reasonable. I have seen a few large boardroom tables made of highly figured blackbutt (fiddleback and burl). It's nice to use timbers that are local.

It's use in furniture is limited by high levels of gum veins, checking and constant need of re-sharpening tools. It is popular for flooring and some structural work.

Traditional roubo design allows for a shelf to be attached flush with the lower stretchers. This was often done with a support screwed to the inside. As a variation of this I've lowered the shelf 60mm within a rabbet. The panels will be tongue and grooved together for stability.